- Joined
- Oct 25, 2011
- Messages
- 25,026
I live 99min away and didn't even know they where there
while electric cars may have a place, with current technology, there is no place (IMHO) for electric boats. The battery technology that works "best", lithium batteries, react VIOLENTLY with water under the right circumstances, which arent hard to get to. In another life, I worked offshore doing oil and gas research, and we used lithium battery packs in our equipment. Those batteries were the size of about 8 "D" cells, but contained about the same energy as a couple of sticks of dynamite. Our procedures for emergencies was to put the battery on the back deck in a sandbox and let it burn, or if we could, eject it over the side. We had to attend training where part was a video of a compromised battery exploding on contact with seawater. the electrolyte on exposure to seawater was the issue, all that needs to be done is to crack a case in some way shape or form.Electric boats, let me electric cars have there place in society. The problem is those special places are so few and far in between there is no profit. The gov't offered numerous grants for EV and battery developement, but once those funds dried up, no profit to keep them going ! Same with cars, for city dwellers they can be a good idea and a cost savings, but to many marketers are hiding the truth from consumers about operation costs and perils. Once the gov't startup money dries up so does the business. Just look at the recent influx of big gov't dollars for battery developement once again....the first 20 billion is gone so taxpayers are footing more money in hopes of some sucess.
When I said they have their place, they do. Many small inland lakes are electric only so folks have no choice. Numerous small electric powered pontoon boats and other electric watercraft for these select areas. As far as a larger cruiser or ski boat, NO way is electric power is ready !!
I saw an X shore at one of the local watering holes... Interestingly, it was on a lift with no shore power attached to it. I've been meaning to ask about it and post pics, but, well, you know...X shore is in Sarasota.... The boat has come in under tow almost every outing.
Another brand used a Tesla battery. They had a leak into the bilge and the battery caught on fire
The technology isn't there yet
While all very true, it is not politically correct at this time ! Politics do not allow for common sense.So electric power may not yet be the answer. The bugs will probably be eliminated one by one.
The only way to move forward with alternative energy sources is to try ,fail, and try again until serious progress is achieved. We know what gasoline does to the environment and I think we would all want a less damaging alternative.
All of this leads me to think that one other alternative would be hydrogen in an internal combustion engine.
Hydrogen can be produced using electric power and is a very powerful energy source.